A month-long campaign stressing the importance of attendance is underway in the Buffalo Public Schools.The new school year begins Thursday for students in the district and Tuesday, Mayor Byron Brown issued a proclamation declaring September "Attendance Awareness Month."
Superintendent Pamela Brown says having children in school and ready to learn every day is critically important.
"We know that students who have strong attendance generally demonstrate better grades and better school performance overall, and certainly higher graduation rates," Brown said.
"Parents, we want you to partner with us even more during this school year. Make sure that your children get to school on-time each and every day and our commitment to you is that they will experience great learning."
According to Read to Succeed Executive Director Anne Ryan, students who miss 10 percent of kindergarten and first grade scored an average of 60 points below similar students with good attendance on third grade reading tests.